Strong defense helps Sailors with win

Steamboat Springs  Brienna Combs scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds Saturday night to lift Steamboat to its second straight conference win of the season as it topped Battle Mountain 39-21 in Avon.

The Huskies, who scored only a single point in the opening quarter, trailed 18-6 by halftime.

They dropped to 0-2 in the league and 0-7 overall.

Steamboat, which is 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the conference, had another strong showing on the defensive end of the court following its 49-35 defeat of Palisade Friday.

Natalie Muth had five steals against Palisade and Jannike Combs ended with four. Emily Hines had three steals in that game.

Against the Huskies, Muth scored 14 points and had six steals and Ashley Rogers finished with 10 rebounds.

Jannike Combs scored four points and had eight rebounds, and Jennifer Weber had four points off the bench.

Muth, who has scored 14 points in each of her past three games, is averaging 10.1 points per game this season.

The Sailors now play perhaps their toughest league game of the season when they visit Rifle Friday to face the 6-2 Bears. The Bears last played the Alamosa Maroons Dec. 16, posting a 47-29 win.

Sailors coach Bruce Alston said the upcoming game will be a good indicator as to where his team stands in the hunt for a conference title.

"We're playing a lot of young players, and for the most part, they're stepping up," Alston said. "Our goal is to continue to improve and peak in February. We're right on track with winning our first two conference games."

Friday's game against Rifle begins at 7 p.m. in Rifle.

The Sailors' junior varsity girls remained undefeated with a 59-28 win over the Huskies Saturday.

Jessica Flores and Katie Carter combined for 29 points for Steamboat.

Rebecca Gray had seven steals and Lennae Jenkins and Anya Allen had five steals a piece for the Sailors.